The following is an excerpt from Warren Sharp's 2025 Football Preview book. In addition to Warren's deep, detailed write-up on all 32 NFL teams, each chapter features page after page of full-color charts, stats, and heatmaps as well as defensive previews from Raymond Summerlin. Click here for a full FREE chapter from the 2025 Football Preview.
While offenses dominate NFL discussion, the other side of the ball plays a large role
With the 2025 NFL season fast approaching, let's look at the defense of the Miami Dolphins and preview how it might perform this season.
2025 Miami Dolphins Defense
The Dolphins allowed 4.4 yards per running back carry in 2024, ranking 19th, but the defensive front did a good job getting early contact.
Miami led the league in yards before contact allowed per RB carry, giving up just 0.84 YBC per run.
Two of the primary contributors to that success are gone, though, with Calais Campbell and Da’Shawn Hand set to play for new teams in 2025.
Zach Sieler is back after logging 10 run stuffs last season and leading the team with 10 sacks, and Miami added Kenneth Grant in the first round.
There are questions behind that top two, however, so they need Grant to hit the ground running.
The Dolphins only ended up with 35 sacks last season (27th), but they were a bit better as pressure rate goes, getting after the quarterback on 34.9% of dropbacks (15th).
The story on the edge is about health. Bradley Chubb did not play at all in 2024 after a late December knee injury back in 2023, and Jaelan Phillips suffered a torn ACL in September of 2024, just 10 months after suffering a torn Achilles.
The Dolphins did have a great hit with 2024 first-round pick Chop Robinson, which gives them a little leeway in getting Chubb and Phillips back to full speed.
Robinson “only” logged 6 sacks as a rookie, but his 17.2% pressure rate ranked third among all eligible pass rushers.
Jordyn Brooks is back after leading the linebacker unit last season, and the Dolphins re-signed Tyrel Dodson after he started the final two games of the season.
Dodson had a great 2023 with the Bills, but he did not settle in with the Seahawks before joining the Dolphins midway through the season.
If Dodson can play at that 2023 level, linebacker should be a pretty solid unit, and they have some interesting names behind that top two with new signings Willie Gay and K.J. Britt.
Miami did a good job against the pass in 2024, allowing 6.7 yards per attempt (3rd) and finishing seventh in defensive EPA per opponent pass, but Jalen Ramsey is gone following a late June trade.
Kader Kohou should be fine as Miami’s slot corner after playing well there in recent seasons.
What happens behind that is in question.
As it stands, new signing Artie Burns, Storm Duck, and Cam Smith are likely competing for starting jobs.
At safety, neither Jevon Holland nor Jordan Poyer is on the 2025 roster.
Miami added both Ashtyn Davis and Ifeatu Melifonwu in free agency, but Minkah Fitzpatrick is the major addition at safety.
Fitzpatrick came back as part of the deals that sent Ramsey and Jonnu Smith to the Steelers.
This analysis continues in the 2025 Football Preview
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